What is the medical definition of cardiomyopathy?

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Cardiomyopathy is a condition that adversely affects the way the heart pumps blood, according to WebMD. It can happen as a result of several things, including genetic predisposition, a heart attack or heart damage. There are several types of cardiomyopathy, including restrictive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

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Stiffening of the heart muscle characterizes restrictive cardiomyopathy. When heart chambers become weak and enlarged, this is called dilated cardiomyopathy, which also includes peripartum cardiomyopathy and alcoholic cardiomyopathy. When the muscles of the heat can't relax and become thick, this is known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, notes WebMD.

Treatment for cardiomyopathy will depend upon the type and particular condition of the heart muscle. Patients may need to make changes to their lifestyles or take medications, states WebMD.